Five months after Ontario police Officer Michael Garcia was shot in the head during the October mass shooting in Las Vegas, he will be participating in the grueling 120-mile Baker to Vegas Run March 17.
Garcia is part of the Ontario Police Department team made up of 20 sworn officers, five alternates and a support crew of 30 volunteers, police officials said in a news release.
Garcia will run the final 20 legs of the relay race, officials said.
Gracia, 24, and his fiancee were both wounded at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, according to Ontario police Sgt. Jeff Higbee. The fiancee’s wounds were not life-threatening, Higbee said.
Gracia, 24, was shot in the head during the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. His fiancee, Summer Clyburn, 23, tried to cover him and was shot as well, according to Jesse Rivera, a friend of Gracia’s from Bonita High School in La Verne.
Despite his injuries, the couple, who had recently welcomed their daughter into the world, returned to Southern California a few days later to cheers and salutes from fellow law enforcement officials, friends, family and well-wishers.
Upon his return, Garcia’s mother, Renee Gracia, of Menifee, said he would be treated at Casa Colina in Pomona — the same facility that helped San Bernardino police Officer Gabe Garcia recover when he was shot in the head in August 2014.
“Officer Gracia has made incredible strides, both in his recovery and on every run, to bring the Ontario Police Department across the finish line,” the statement said. “When Officer Gracia runs across that finish line, the entire Ontario team and members of the other competing teams will be there to cheer him on.”
This marks Ontario’s Baker to Vegas team 16th time participating in the annual law enforcement run. The team placed in 202nd place the first time they joined the run, officials said.
“Last year we placed 25th, with an all-time best of 15 hours and 29 minutes!” the statement said.
Their goal this year is to place in the top 20 among 280 the competing teams from all over the world including Belize, Germany and Australia.